A New Apartment...

So, yesterday I went to sign the lease on my new apartment. It's wonderful! I have a nice shaded balcony, TWO bedrooms, a dining room and a fireplace. It's an older building, but I think it's got a nice nature-y feel to it. I'm already daydreaming about how to organize and decorate the place.

There's only one problem. I'm still not sure how to arrange things in there because it's oddly shaped. The Fireplace is caddy-cornered next to the sliding glass doors, so that knocks out a whole wall in the living room. There's no bar for me to display my family pictures on. The Fireplace doesn't have a mantel. The Diningroom isn't exactly flush with the livingroom which makes the living area seem small. Regardless of all those things, it's got to be better than the apartment we're living in now because we just have no space and it doesn't really seem like a cozy place because we never really made it like a home. That's what I want to do differently with this place.

I haven't exercised in about three days because I've been sick. My stomach disorder has flared up with a vengeance and doesn't want me to be happy. I haven't been able to eat much, so maybe I'm still losing weight. I'm about to try to at least do some lunges or squats or something.

I went to the thrift store yesterday and bought some awesome vintage picture frames and scoped out the furniture. I really want to buy some stuff an d refinish it. So far, I found some cool end tables/nightstands. They looked to be from the '60s, and they had wire mesh cut outs on the doors. I'm thinking if I go back tomorrow and they're still there, I'm going to get them. The only thing is, I cannot figure out if they are too big to be nighstands. That's because the ones I have at my house are enormous because I have a huge bedroom set there.

If I do get them, I'm going to sand them down and (depending upon if they're really all solid wood) stain them a super dark brown and paint the mesh silver. Then, I'm going to get some glass knobs and add them, then get some cool fabric to pleat inside the doors. Gah, I'm just so excited about them! I think they are a little too deep to be nighstands, but oh well.

Today after class, I think Tyler and I are going to go check out The Attic to see if they've got any reasonably priced headboards and dressers. I'm so excited!

I can't imagine what it is like to be unemployed and have nothing to do. I know that Ty is miserable, but there's nothing I can do about it. It makes me feel pretty fucking helpless, really. I mean, there's nothing I can say that will make him feel better. Ever. It makes me sad and question a lot of things. I think June will be his month though. I'm almost to the point that I'm willing to go to church just to maybe The Big Guy will have pity upon us and send Ty a job. That's saying a lot since I'm not exactly a church goer.

Yesterday my best friend and I went out for the day. It was good to get away from the apartment for a while. Daina's getting married in October 2011, so we went to look at dresses for her. She already found "the dress" and it is absolutely gorgeous. A wonderful friend deserves a wonderful dress, so I'm glad she found just that.

My parents are coming to town today. I think we're going to Lake Lurleen today. I've never been there, but I'm looking forward to spending some time outside. Maybe I'll roll up my sleeves and try to get an even tan on my arms.

Tyler and I have begun reading Infinite Jest. I picked a fine time to begin a 1,076 page book. I start Shakespeare next week. Maybe I can juggle both. I'm also going to read The Red Badge of Courage, The Scarlet Letter, and anything else I think my 10th graders can tackle. I really want to find some different things for them to read. I should probably check with the school and make sure it's alright.

Well, the parents should be here any moment. Wish me luck. And if you're reading this and you're a praying person, pray for Tyler to get a job.

I've worked out every day for the past two weeks. It feels good. I look forward to it in the mornings.

I am so sick of all of the political commercials. There are too many dumb people with too much money that think they'll "do good" for Alabama. I've got news for them: they are being made fun of all over the web. They also need to read up on educational law and the bible.

Miss Karen Black read my tarot for me last week. It said that I was going to be great at my job and that I will like it. I really hope that it's right. I'm nervous and excited.

The school I'm teaching at had yet another tragedy last week. A girl's parents were throwing her a graduation party when some 20 year old idiot came in and shot 9 people. 1 person was killed; he was a student at Bryant High School. It just breaks my heart. I'm not sure if any of my kids were there or were injured, but I'm checking in this week. I was going to go in last week, but I figure the administration had enough going on. They didn't need me coming in there bothering them any. I'm wondering how much my students can take before it gets to the point where they want to go to other schools. It hurts my heart because I truly love that school. I can't imagine teaching anywhere else at this point.

I've got a lot of ideas. I won't be able to be in charge of anything during the first part of the fall semester (I'll still be considered a "long term sub") but in the spring I definitely want to have a poetry cafe once a month where students can stay after school and share their writings. I'll put some mood lighting up and have coffee and tea and cookies and we'll read and share. I think it'll be fun. It's something creative that the kids don't have right now, and I want these kids to have something to look forward to each month.

Also, I'm planning on expanding my Gothic literature unit to three weeks so that we can read more Poe and Faulkner. My 11th graders will read more Flannery and stuff by Barry Hannah, if I can find anything that isn't too vulgar, that is.

I've got this hairbrained idea to go backwards in the literature aspect. I mean start with the early 1900s and go back to the 1600s. I think it will be easier for them to relate to the later stuff, so they'll know how to pick apart a piece before we get to the harder stuff from the 1600s. I don't know. I'll have the next two months to decide.

I'm really enjoying my English class for this May term. It's called "Masterpiece Theatre" and we watch movies that are based on literature. It's really funny and awful how much liberty directors and writers take with these adaptations. Some basically just took the title of the work and didn't make the movie anything like the story. The best phrase I can think of for these films is "awesomely bad," like those Vh1 shows.

That's all for now. Hopefully I'll buy a scale this week and update my workout progression.

farewell

Alright, so far this week I've started my interim class, worked out every day and chilled out. I have found that since I've been exercising, I've been sleeping better, wanting to eat better, and I've been in a better mood. It's really great.

I've been trying to eat better ever since the internship was over, but now I'm doing that AND working out, it's really great. I got my first glimpse at losing weight today when I tried on my seersucker pants. Last week (just last week!) they didn't fit very well. I could button them, but they were uncomfortable. Today, I wore them and they were comfortable! I even had a little bit of wiggle room in them. It was amazing. Little things like that make me realize what I'm doing is actually working.

This week I've read things for my class. Monday I read "Rip Van Winkle" and Tuesday I read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." I liked both of them. I want to read for pleasure, but I'm afraid that if I do that, I'll get it confused with what I've got to read for class. Tomorrow we're covering "The Fall of the House of Usher." I'm pretty pumped.

My aunt is having a baby. She sent me a video of the first ultrasound today. I'm so excited to be a cousin again! Her two daughters are my only first cousins, and I can't wait to have another! I hope this one's a boy! :)

Today I took a quick trip up to Hoover with Tyler. He had a job interview and I just wanted to get out of the house. He dropped me off at the Summit and I went looking at graduation dresses and things. This is what I tried on:

I've been looking at it online for weeks. What this picture doesn't tell you that you will find out in person is that if you have an um... large chest, it will look funny on you! I'm so glad I tried it on before going out on a whim and buying it like I was thinking of doing. I looked for this dress but couldn't find it:This dress is adorable! I love the ruffles. But, I can't find it anywhere (probably because it is so adorable). Oh well, I'll find the perfect dress eventually.

I did buy some stuff today, like a bra and some undies from Victoria's Secret. They finally have affordable bras you can get without it costing you an arm and a leg. Their t-shirt full coverage bra is $24.50! super cheap! I'm excited to wear it... I'm such a dweeb.

Anyway, so I came home and my blood sugar dropped, just when we were about to go out for Mexican food. :( I had to eat immediately so I wouldn't faint and so my late lunch was a hot pocket. It sucked. So, maybe I'll be able to get something decent for dinner.

Tomorrow we may be adding our newest addition to the family. His name is Cheerio. If we don't get him we'll at least be going to look at kitties at the Humane Society of West Alabama. They're having an adopt-a-thon, so if there's anyone out there reading this, you should go and check out the kitties and give one a good home! Anyway, here's a picture of Cheerio:

He's a beautiful 2 year old buff tabby. I think he's going to be perfect for us, but only meeting him will tell. I'm excited to finally meet him. I think Tyler wants to change his name to Chuck... we'll see about that. :)

Until tomorrow...

I am the worst procrastinator

I have one thing that I do that drives me absolutely bonkers: I procrastinate like you would not believe! I don't know why, but I just always have some excuse not to do something until later. One of those things is getting in shape.

I have no excuse for this other than the fact that I'm lazy. Every day I tell myself "tomorrow I'm going to go exercise," but it never happens! I tell myself that I don't have any energy. Well hell, I don't have any energy because I don't get out there and exercise.

I need a gym buddy. The other half is super skinny. Therefore, he believes that there is no reason for him to go to the gym, and now that he isn't a student anymore he really has an excuse.

I'm going to hold myself accountable this time. I want to look presentable for the pool once I'm moved into the new apartment on June 15th. That means I have a month and 9 days. I think that if I cut my meals in half and I exercise every day and walk to my classes I should be able to lose some weight. Also, no more cokes. I'll only drink water and alcohol... haha.

Anyway, enough about that. I'm really bored. I think I miss my students but it's still too early to tell.

Bio- About Me

Hi, I'm Jess. This picture right here to the right is very unflattering, but the person in the picture with me is pretty important to me. That's my little brother. Yes, my little brother. My family is pretty small; it's just me, my brother, my mom and my dad.

Anyway, I'm 22 years old. I'm currently taking my last two classes at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. I'll be graduating in August with a degree in secondary education, which is terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. I'll then, 48 hours later, will be teaching 10th and 11th grade at a wonderful high school in Tuscaloosa.

Now, you may think that I have it made, and for once in my life I can say that yes, I do. However, throughout the past five years of my life I've had to struggle to have things that most other people have handed to them. I don't look at it as a streak of bad luck, but a learning experience. I don't think I would go back and change anything (actually, having college paid for would be nice:)). Although I've gone through lots of crap in my college career, I have acquired some of the greatest friends and experiences a girl could ever ask for.

Besides being in college, I live a pretty boring life with my fiance', Tyler. We've been together for, well, forever. We started dating back in 2002, two weeks before my 15th birthday. We've never "gone on a break" or anything, and we got engaged in 2008 (we think, we can't remember). He graduated in December with a degree in economics. He's still looking for a job, and the perfect guitar.

We moved in together in 2008. No, we aren't married. No, our families didn't really like it. But, we aren't the kind of people to do things (or not do things) just because of what other people think. We go with our feelings and I like it that way. Just like the fact that we have no intentions of getting married any time soon. If we feel the need to make that step, we'll do it, but we won't do it until we're ready. Besides, neither of us are going anywhere.

I'm really headstrong and talkative. I think it has everything to do with being the oldest child, and I also think that it has a lot to do with why I want to be a teacher. I've always been the one to be the leader, and I love helping people. I feel most at home when I'm with my class of students and I'm getting them to love what I love.

So, that's me for now. Soon, we'll have an addition to our family... a cat. That's my latest obsession. You'll hear lots about that. Probably right now.